Anxiety Attacks During CPAP Operation

[nuffkids]

I just had a sleep study and the technician put me on cpap for the last 2 hrs. I am a mouthbreather therefore I need the mask that covers both the nose and mouth. The whole time the mask was on I was having horrible anxiety and felt like I could not breathe. I would fall asleep for a short time and wake and remove the mask because I could not catch my breath. Has anyone had this happen and can this problem be resolved?

[BlackSpinner]

Most people experience something like this. Many spend months or years screaming at their equipment. Do yourself a favour and find a therapist - someone that can do hypnotherapy or Neurolingiustic programming to help you deal with the issues from the start. You need CPAP to stay alive so you might as well deal with the life change challenges right now instead of wasting time, energy and quality of health on trying to do it your self.

[ozij]

Sleep apnea - being choked many times an hour on a nightly basis makes us hyper-vigilant of anything that may remind us of choking - including having a life saving mask on our face.

Add to that: the titration (trying to figure out your pressure) is a time when the tech tries all kind pressures on us, and most of them are probably wrong - because titration is a process of stating low, and raising the pressure gradually, till the right pressure is found.

Here's Kiralynx's experience -

Luck of the draw -- I was fortunate enough to be here before my titration so I could implement some really useful information, like calling the sleep center and trying on masks BEFORE I arrived for the testing. I have dreadful claustrophobia, and if they'd handed me some whiz-bang with straps all over my face, or a full-face mask, I'd've gone through the ceiling in panic. (Hard to get a valid titration if the patient is on the roof, screaming! Besides, I don't think the wiring harness cable stretches that far...)

See if they can loan you a mask, and start getting used to it gradually - at home, watching TV (if you can do that without spectacles...); listening to relaxing music. Do it only as long as it feels OK - and remind yourself, consciously that this is there (will be there, connected to the machine) to keep you from choking.

Your fear of choking is objective - it's been happening ever night for quite a while. Your fear of the mask is an understandable mistake - based on your need to make sure nothing disturbs your breathing.

O.

[BMW Cruiser]

I did my evaluation about 6 weeks ago and had the same experience and almost left before completing. I fought through it. I did enough so they could see that I needed the equipment. So when it came time for the perscrip, I did the research and insisted that my Doc prescribe on an Remstar Aflex machine. HUGE difference from the equipment at the test center. I just completed 15 days and have great numbers. Thanks to all the good people here CPAPTalk who take the time to explain the hows and whys. Okay I'm a lurker and this is my first post.

[ozij]

Lurking's fine, BMW. So's joining.
Welcome to the board.
O.

[nate fry]

Well the fear of suffocation is somewhat normal at first. There are pills that can help till you get used to it. But I would go to an ear,nose and throat and find out why your a mouth breather. You probably have a deviated septum and enlarged turbinates. You should be able to breath threw your nose. I had a similar problem and had it repaired. I feel a lot better now.

[harry33]

I agree about watching TV in a comfortable chair while using CPAP, all FF masks have a safety valve that allows breathing if no high pressure air, works by the suction of breathing in, so turn off your CPAP to experience this
also agree about finding out why you mouth breathe, is there a cause or is it just thru habit, mouth breathing requires less effort than nose breathing

[S-Dubya]

When I first started CPAP I had similar panic moments. I found that the best way for me to get past them and even avoid them was to focus on my breathing. In - out - in - out... I still do it today and I have been on CPAP for 6+ years. I don't get the panic anymore, but I think the rythmic nature of my breathing helps me relax and fall asleep now.

[nobody]

I think this is more a problem of getting used to the pressure than it is with your type of mask. You'd probably have the same sensation no matter what mask you use because the pressure is the point . Yes that happened to me at first too. Actually I preferred a full face mask at first because of it. Now I know with the full face mask the pressure I actually get in my throat is a bit less than with the nasal mask. The problem will resolve on it's own as you get used to it. I'd recommend lying in bed with it on and do some reading or watch TV. You'll be used to it in no time.

I just had a sleep study and the technician put me on cpap for the last 2 hrs. I am a mouthbreather therefore I need the mask that covers both the nose and mouth. The whole time the mask was on I was having horrible anxiety and felt like I could not breathe. I would fall asleep for a short time and wake and remove the mask because I could not catch my breath. Has anyone had this happen and can this problem be resolved?

[cassaro]

I thought I would jump in and offer another perspective.

I agree that given a bit of time you will become accustom to your mask and things will get better...Just talking to us about it will help reduce some of the anxiety!

You may also want to check some of your medications and see if they may make you more prone to anxiety attacks. I found this out from experience when my doctor switched me from Previcid to Nexium. I typically have 2-3 board meetings a month and speak before large groups of people and never had an issue with it but after being switched to Nexium I started to have panic attacks. It took me years to figure out what was going on but once I switched back the anxiety stopped.
I believe I read somewhere on this board that acid reflux is more common with people in our "situation" so I thought I would offer that observation.

Chuck

[ozij]

Happy birthday chuck - and thanks for the fascinating information!
O.